Some members of the spraying gang of the Zoomlion Ghana Company on site.

Zoomlion Ghana Company Limited, a waste management company, has stepped up its spraying activities in all the 26 districts in the Northern Region to prevent the spread of yellow fever in the region.

This follows reported cases of the disease in the region. It has claimed three lives in the West Gonja District this month.
The Northern Regional Vector Control Officer of Zoomlion, Mr Abdulai Abdul-Aziz Yelsuma, made this known at the handover of 27 motorbikes, 81 solo-motorised spraying machines and 1,248 litres of insecticides to the spraying gangs of the company at a ceremony in Tamale last Wednesday.

A new pick-up vehicle has also been assigned to the Vector Control Unit of the company to enhance its monitoring of the spraying exercise.
Enhanced activities
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Yelsuma said due to the outbreak of yellow fever, the Vector Control Unit had scaled up its activities in the districts to prevent its spread.
In line with the objective, he said the spraying gangs had been tasked to intensify the spraying of places such as public toilets, refuse dumps, slaughter houses, urinals and some major drains which were breeding places for disease-causing organisms.
He asked members of the spraying gangs to take good care of the items to ensure that they lasted long and cautioned them to be very careful with the handling of the chemicals and other insecticides.
Waste collection
The Northern Sector General Manager of Zoomlion, Mr Emmanuel Volsuuri, who handed over the items, said aside from the motorbikes, the company had provided 190 tricycles, popularly known as motor king, for distribution to the districts in the region to enhance waste collection this year.
He added that the company was equipping all its district offices to provide excellent customer service this year.

Finance Minister presents bill to amend Income Tax Act

Finance Minister presents bill to amend Income Tax Act

Finance Minister, Seth Tekper

The Minister of Finance, Mr Seth Terkper, on Friday laid a bill before Parliament to amend the Income Tax Act 2015, (Act 896). The presentation of the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2015 came barely 24 hours after Parliament had challenged the authority of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to suspend the implementation of the act without recourse to the House.

The Speaker, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, referred the bill to the Finance Committee of Parliament for consideration and delivery of a report to the House.
He said the committee could also look at any consequential issue and advise the House accordingly.

Background
The Income Tax Act 2015, which was passed by Parliament and assented to by President John Dramani Mahama on September 1, 2015, was supposed to come into effect on January 1, 2016.
Under the act, all interest paid to an individual is to attract one per cent tax.
This means that any interest accrued on treasury bills, fixed income deposit, interest from banks, among others, will attract a tax of one per cent.
Following public uproar against the tax, the GRA directed all financial institutions to suspend its imposition.
A ranking member of the Finance Committee of Parliament, Dr Anthony Akoto-Osei, raised the issue in Parliament last Thursday, pointing out that the GRA had no authority to suspend the act, pointing out that when Parliament passed an act, no institution had the right to suspend it.
Dr Akoto-Osei said it was crucial for Parliament to send a notice to institutions that they could not “negate” an act passed by the House.
Speaker
The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, supported the position of Dr Akoto-Osei and stressed that the GRA had no authority to suspend the Income Tax Act that had been passed by Parliament.
He said until such an Act was amended by Parliament, it remained in force.
Dr Doe Adjaho asked the Majority leader to take the issue up with the appropriate authorities.

Capital Bank still league sponsors: PLB boss

Capital Bank still league sponsors: PLB boss

Ashford Tettey-Oku — The man in the hot seat

New Premier League Board (PLB) chairman, Ashford Tettey-Oku, insists Capital Bank (formerly First Capital Plus Bank) remains title sponsors of the Premier League in spite of a unilateral suspension of the contract by the bank two months ago, casting doubts over whether the 2015/16 season will commence next month without sponsorship.

The PLB boss told the Graphic Sports yesterday that Capital Bank had a contractual agreement with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and as far as he was aware the FA had not given any indication that the contract had been abrogated.
Reacting to concerns by Premier League clubs about the uncertainty over the league sponsorship, Mr Tettey-Oku said much as he identified with their apprehension, there was no cause for alarm.

"The PLB understands the concerns of the clubs, but so far as we know, Capital Bank remains the sponsors and until the GFA gives us a contrary situation, we do not have contrary situation we do not have to be despondent," he assured.
He admitted that playing this season's league without the title sponsorship would not only affect the clubs financially, but also the FA, which spends over GH¢2million to organise the league every season, aside of the sponsorship.
"Without the sponsorship, the FA will also have to find money to completely run the league, and aside other huge costs it takes care of, the situation would be a huge financial challenge for the FA and as such everyone is very much concerned and determined to ensure the contractual agreement is respected."
He gave the assurance that with the Broadcast Sponsorship deal with SuperSport still running, the premiership clubs were set to benefit from the season's package, with the PLB ready to get the league started on February 20.
"We are very ready to get the season started. All the knotty issues have been dealt with so far as organisation is concerned and we assure all of an exciting season," Mr Tettey-Oku indicated.
At the end of last season, the bank officially informed the FA in a letter about its decision to suspend $2million-a-year deal with the FA in order to undertake some internal restructuring. The sponsorship deal, which was in its second year, was to run for five years.
In reaction, GFA president, Kwesi Nyantakyi, said per the terms of the contract, there was no room for a “suspension” and notified the bank about the possible legal ramifications such a unilateral action could attract.
Efforts to get a reaction from Capital Bank was not successful at the time of going to press.

- See more at: http://www.graphic.com.gh/sports/sports-news/57279-capital-bank-still-league-sponsors-plb-boss.html#sthash.q1FHQvV6.dpuf